In 2007, fire destroyed the clubhouse at Western Hills Country Club in Mount Vernon, IN. Among the items destroyed was a print of the clubhouse at Royal St. Andrews in Scotland (the reputed birthplace of golf)along with painting of some of the game's greatest players. This is a tribute to those players and the club in Mount Vernon.

Tucked away near an elite locker room

Hung an artist's rendition of the

birthplace of the links.


An ancient castle, imposing and dreadful,

like any other medieval fortress.

but this was the cradle of gawf.

There once was a charred mural

of the fortress and those who

lifted the Auld Mug.


Old Willie, Young Willie,

Old Tom, Young Tom.

plumed nobles from Colonial days.

The Liege Lords, the Loyal Subjects

who claimed the Claret Jug and those

who came, who saw and conquered,

taking it back to the Colonies.


Player and Jacklin,

Middlecoff and Nelson,

Hagen and Jones.


Slammin' Sammy took the Auld Mug,

but wasn't impressed with The Open.

Futebol and gawf hampered defense,

but couldn't hold back these invaders,

royal linksters storming the royal palace.


The Golden Bear and Lively Lee.

win the Open back-to-back?

This looks like a job for Super Mex.


"A" is for Arnie,

leading his Army,

across the little bridge

at St. Andrews.


Hosting cowboys,

kings, stars and

even a Rappite.


But the pictures are gone,

one of how many?

Burned to the ground with

the hideaway of a small town's elite.


The hideaway came back.

Bigger and better?

Except for some things.